PRETORIA, July 8. /ITAR-TASS/. Nigerian army is developing military advance on positions of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the country’s north-east. According to representative of the Nigerian Army General Staff Gen.-Maj. Chris Olukolade, more than 40 militants have been already eliminated. Artillery and missile strikes are being delivered on alleged gathering points of terrorists in the Borno State.

The mopping up of Balmo and Sambisa forests is almost completed. In this woodlands located in the territory of Borno, Bauchi and Jugawa states, covers of Boko Haram were organized to attack civilians. Several terrorists were captured including a number of foreign mercenaries. A huge amount of weapons, cars and communication tools was seized.

Recently, Boko Haram militants advocating the creation of a fundamentalist state in Nigeria’s north-east have sharply stepped up their attacks on facilities linked with the army and police, as well as terrorist attacks on civilians. After they abducted 300 schoolgirls, 272 of which are still held as hostages, Boko Haram’s raids caused outrage in the world community. The United Nations have imposed sanctions on the terrorist group.

Political observers believe the extremist group is enjoying the support of at least a part of the military. According to some reports, some not very delicate soldiers in chase of profit temporarily join the militants’ detachments, and then return to their military units. Islamists often receive information from their accomplices in the military circles in advance, and then successfully attack military escorts, barracks and fortified positions. Otherwise it would be hard to explain how the Nigerian army, the second in terms of combatant value on the continent after the South African, cannot manage to fight Boko Haram for several years.